Alcedinid^e.] 



OSTEOLOGIA AVIUM. 



[MEROPINiE. 



Measurements (continued). 

 Tenths. 



Length of sternum 18 



Breadth of posterior margin of sternum 12 

 Breadth of anterior margin of sternum 11 

 Depth of keel 5 



Tenths. 



Length of head 44 



Breadth of head 17 



Length of pelvis 19 



Breadth of pelvis 13 



Illustrations. 



Pelvis, coracoids, furculum, and meta- 

 tarsi, Plate IX. fig. 2. 



Palatine bones of Dacelo gigantea, 

 Plate XII. 



Galbula, Mcehr. 



Subfam. 3. Galbulin^e. 



I have only one skeleton of Galbula ; the feathers were all rubbed off when it arrived, 

 so that I am unable to make out the species. 



The cranium very convex on the vertex; orbital septum entire. Palatine bones 

 broader than in Alcedo, without any spine projecting from their external posterior angles. 



Sternum much shorter in proportion to its w£dth than in Alcedo, with two large 

 fissures on each side extending nearly to the articulation of the ribs. The metatarsi are 

 longer in proportion to the tibia than in Alcedo. The remaining bones are similar to 



Alcedo. 



Measurements. 



Tenths. 

 Breadth of posterior margin of sternum 5-J 

 Breadth of anterior margin of sternum 5^- 



Tenths. 



Length of humerus 9 



Length of ulna 12 



Length of metacarpus 4 



Length of femur 6 



Length of tibia . 8 



Length of metatarsus 5^ 



Length of sternum 7^ 



Depth of keel 2£ 



Length of head 30 



Breadth of head 7 



Length of pelvis 8 



Breadth of pelvis 6 



Subfam. 4. Meropin^e. 



Merops, Linn. 



Ornatus, Lath. 

 Cranium more convex than among the Alcedinw, and maxillaries bent downwards, and 

 not extending for above one-half of the length of the cranium over the roof of the 

 mouth. Palatine bones longer and narrower, and without the spine on their posterior 

 lateral angle ; a much deeper impression at the base of the nasal bones. Impression for 

 the masseter muscles much fainter, and not united at the occiput ; occipital protuberance 



i 2 55 



